User Interface having Zoom Functionality

Abstract

A user interface having zoom functionality is described. In an implementation, a user interface is displayed having representations of a plurality of content. Each of the representations is formed using a respective picture-in-picture stream of respective content. When an input is received to select a particular one of the representations, the respective content is displayed by zooming in from the picture-in-picture stream of the respective content to a respective video stream of the respective content.

1 . A method comprising:
 displaying a user interface having representations of a plurality of content in which each said representation is formed using a respective picture-in-picture stream of respective said content ( 602 ); and   when an input is received to select a particular said representation, displaying the respective said content by zooming in from the picture-in-picture stream of the respective said content to a respective video stream of the respective said content ( 604 ).   
     
     
         2 . A method as described in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the displaying are performed by a client having a surface;   at least a portion of the surface is used to display the representations of the plurality of content using the respective picture-in-picture stream and to display the respective said content using the respective video stream of the respective said content; and   the input is received via the surface.   
     
     
         3 . A method as described in  claim 2 , wherein the client has a form factor of a table that includes a table top having the surface. 
     
     
         4 . A method as described in  claim 2 , wherein the input is received by recognizing a gesture made by using one or more fingers of a user's hand. 
     
     
         5 . A method as described in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of content is available via a respective one of a plurality of channels. 
     
     
         6 . A method as described in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the user interface is an electronic program guide (EPG); and   the plurality of content includes television programming.   
     
     
         7 . A method as described in  claim 1 , further comprising displaying the representations of the plurality of content using the respective picture-in-picture streams by zooming out from the respective video stream of the respective said content when an input is received to navigate to the representations. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 outputting a user interface having a still representation of each of a plurality of content that is available via a respective one of a plurality of channels;   when an input is received to select a portion of the user interface, enlarging one or more said representations included in the portion of the user interface and configuring the one or more said representations to be displayed in the user interface in motion; and   when an input is received to select an enlarged said representation, further enlarging the selected said representation in the user interface to output respective said content.   
     
     
         9 . A method as described in  claim 8 , wherein:
 the outputting the enlarging, and the further enlarging are performed by a client;   the client has a form factor of a table;   the inputs are received via a surface of the table;   the surface is included as part of a table top of the client; and   the outputting is performed using at least a portion of the surface.   
     
     
         10 . A method as described in  claim 8 , wherein the one or more said representations are displayed in the user interface using respective picture-in-picture streams. 
     
     
         11 . A method as described in  claim 10 , wherein the respective said content is output using a video stream. 
     
     
         12 . A method as described in  claim 8 , wherein the further enlarging is performed such that the respective said content includes audio. 
     
     
         13 . A method as described in  claim 8 , wherein the inputs are received by detecting a stretching gesture made on the surface using one or more fingers of one or more hands of a user. 
     
     
         14 . A client ( 102 ) comprising:
 a housing ( 116 ) having a form factor of a table;   a surface ( 120 ) disposed on a table top of the housing; and   one or more modules ( 122 ) disposed within the housing to:
 display a user interface on the surface having representations of a plurality of content; and 
 when an input is received to select a particular said representation, display respective said content by zooming in from the representations of the plurality of content to the respective said content. 
   
     
     
         15 . A client as described in  claim 14 , wherein the respective said content is a television program. 
     
     
         16 . A client as described in  claim 14 , wherein the input is received via the surface. 
     
     
         17 . A client as described in  claim 16 , wherein the input is received by detecting a gesture made on the surface using one or more fingers of one or more hands of a user. 
     
     
         18 . A client as described in  claim 17 , wherein the gesture is a stretching gesture. 
     
     
         19 . A client as described in  claim 14 , wherein the respective said content is displayed using a video stream and the representations of the plurality of content is displayed using respective picture-in-picture streams. 
     
     
         20 . A client as described in  claim 14 , wherein the one or more modules include:
 a rear-projection system to display the representations and the respective said content on the surface;   one or more infrared projectors to project infrared light on the surface;   one or more infrared cameras to capture infrared images of the surface; and   a detection module to process the infrared images to detect the input.